System and method for query refinement

Abstract

A method and system are provided for automatically enhancing initial search results produced by a search engine in response to a multi-word user query. The method may include implementing a result evaluation mechanism within the search engine for evaluating adequacy of the initial search results. The method may additionally include formulating at least one alternative query, such as a sub-query, if the initial search results are deemed inadequate by the result evaluation mechanism. The method may additionally include displaying result information including the initial search results and a listing of any formulated alternative queries.

1 . A method for automatically enhancing initial search results produced by a search engine in response to a multi-word user query, the method comprising: 
 implementing a result evaluation mechanism within the search engine for evaluating adequacy of the initial search results;    formulating at least one alternative query if the initial search results are deemed inadequate by the result evaluation mechanism; and    displaying result information including the initial search results and a listing of any formulated alternative queries.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein implementing the result evaluation mechanism comprises evaluation at least one of a quantity and relevance of the initial results.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein formulating the at least one alternative query comprises formulating at least one sub-query from the multi-word user query.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising formulating multiple sub-queries.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising determining at least one of a quantity and a relevance of sub-query results.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising displaying at least one of the quantity and the relevance of the sub-query results.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising formulating the at least one query if the initial search results fall below one of a relevance and quantity threshold.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising providing a tunable threshold for triggering the formulation of the at least one alternative query.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising eliminating the formulation of alternative queries during high usage periods.  
   
   
       10 . A method for automatically enhancing initial search results produced by a search engine in response to a multi-word user query, the method comprising: 
 parsing the multi-word user query into multiple sub-queries;    determining validity of the multiple sub-queries by determining one of a number of sub-query results and a relevance of sub-query results; and    displaying the initial search results.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising displaying the sub-queries and the determined validity of the sub-queries.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising displaying only sub-queries having a determined validity value exceeding a pre-selected threshold value.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising evaluating the validity of the initial search results by evaluating one of a quantity and a relevance of the initial search results.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising parsing the multi-word query if the initial search results fall below one of a relevance and quantity threshold.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising displaying at least one of the quantity and the relevance of the sub-query results.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising providing a tunable threshold for triggering the parsing of the multi-word query.  
   
   
       17 . A system for automatically enhancing initial search results produced by a search engine in response to a multi-word user query, the system comprising: 
 a result evaluation mechanism within the search engine for evaluating adequacy the initial search results;    an alternative query determination mechanism for formulating an alternative query if the initial search results are evaluated as inadequate by the result evaluation mechanism; and    a result output component for outputting the alternative query for display along with the initial search results.    
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the result evaluation mechanism comprises a mechanism for evaluation of at least one of a quantity and relevance of the initial results.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the alternative query formulation mechanism formulates at least one sub-query from the multi-word user query.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the sub-query evaluation mechanism includes components for determining at least one of a quantity and a relevance of sub-query results.